Customer Reviews

If building for flight consider leaving the RCS quads off because they are fragile. Also make sure to pick up the extra parts set, you will need the extra RCS parts and probably the tower at some point.

Make sure to use the proper glue, lots of small scale parts that can pop off on landing.

I just had to have this kit. The quality and looks of this kit are amazing. This kit is a lot of fun to build and not too difficult if you have built a few other rockets. You will need to review and consider some things before you start your build.
This kit combines a high-detail plastic model with the capabilities and strength of a mid-power flying model rocket. Some of the building and finishing techniques are different, for example, you wont need to spend a lot of time priming, filling, and sanding this model, in fact I wouldn't use any primer at all on the plastic parts. It will take away from the detail, and can provide a rougher looking finish than if you hadn't primed it. You will need a good contact cement as well to attach the wrap to the body tube. You will also need some different adhesives for attaching the plastic parts to the wrap (Testors plastic model cement will NOT work for attaching parts to the plastic wrap - I used med CA / and plasti-weld, with some epoxy on the inside of the fins). I would not recommend trying to clear coat this at all. Clear coat will dull most silver paints, and I ended up having to paint the silver wrap again because I did this, and the finish is never as good the second time around...
There are many forums online where people explain how they built and finished this kit, what to do, and what not to, etc. I would recommend you do some googling and review them before starting. You will also want to think about what "Boiler Plate" model you wish to build. There are differences in how each is finished. I finished mine as the notorious BP 22.
I flew mine for the first time on 7/16/16 on an Aerotech E30-4. Winds were very light. The rocket very quickly left the pad and flew to about 700 ft vertically (best guess), with no spin. Ejection occurred < 1 second before apogee, but this did not cause any issues. The big chute opened quickly and the rocket was recovered about 100 feet from the pad. The rocket sustained no damage and will still look great on display.
Overall, I am very pleased with this kit. Take your time, think things through, and you will have a very impressive model for both display and flight!

This new LJ II it spot on...excellent kit, Both wraps are beautiful and very detailed. The bottom wrap is far more detailed than the Centuri, (which I have a few of). but will require painting, which is no big deal to me. The "outboard" nozzles actually stay on for flight, rendering even more detail on the pad and in flight. The fins and fairings are plastic and very detailed. There are plastic details for the various "conduits" on the kit. I have been flying since 1967 and while I have quite a collection of "oldies". I had to buy this kit to add to the collection. It will become a "Classic" ...for that matter I think it already is. I highly recommend this kit and will be excited to fly this bird..
.I would suggest to Estes that they make and sell replacement parts should someone break a fin or lose a capsule (yep, I sadly lost one capsule). Of course at that time Centuri was no longer in business. Overall, if you like beautiful scale models, this is it...Thank you Estes...Paul Horning, NAR# 7571